Why is nitro group explosive?

Why is nitro group explosive?

The nitro group consists of a nitrogen atom with two oxygens and one carbon attached. The two nitrogen-oxygen bonds are “bonds and half” that destabilize nitro compounds, making their analysis an explosive proposition.

What is the nitro functional group?

The nitro group is one of the most common explosophores (functional group that makes a compound explosive) used globally. The nitro group is also strongly electron-withdrawing. Nitro groups are rarely found in nature. They are almost invariably produced by nitration reactions starting with nitric acid.

What is nitroglycerin used for explosive?

nitroglycerin, also called glyceryl trinitrate, a powerful explosive and an important ingredient of most forms of dynamite. It is also used with nitrocellulose in some propellants, especially for rockets and missiles, and it is employed as a vasodilator in the easing of cardiac pain.

What property does a nitro group give an organic compound?

The most common examples are organic substances in which a carbon atom is linked by a covalent bond to the nitrogen atom of the nitro group. Nitro compounds are polar, and those with no other chemically reactive grouping are colourless or pale yellow liquids that are only slightly soluble in water.

Is acid explosive?

When hydrated, picric acid is a typically safe to handle, but it becomes a powerful explosive when dry (less than 10\% water). Dry picric acid is highly sensitive to heat, shock, and friction. The moistened solid is classified as a flammable solid. Salts formed with ammonia and amines are also sensitive explosives.

Is nitro group meta directing?

Thus, the nitro group is a meta directing group. Ortho, para directing groups are electron-donating groups; meta directing groups are electron-withdrawing groups. The halide ions, which are electron-withdrawing but ortho, para directing, are the exception.

What do you understand by nitration?

In organic chemistry, nitration is a general class of chemical processes for the introduction of a nitro group into an organic compound. The term also is applied incorrectly to the different process of forming nitrate esters between alcohols and nitric acid (as occurs in the synthesis of nitroglycerin).

How do you find a nitro group?

Hint: Mulliken Barker test is used to detect the presence of a mono nitro group in the compound. The presence of the nitro group can be observed by the shiny silver mirror that is formed at the end of the reaction.

How can nitro group in a compound be identified?

Nitro compounds are a very important class of nitrogen derivatives. Nitro groups of nitroalkanes can be identified by strong infrared bands at about 1550cm−1 and 1375cm−1, whereas the corresponding bands in the spectra of aromatic nitro compounds occur at slightly lower frequencies.

What is the advantage of a nitro group in explosives?

TNT also has an advantage in this regard because the nitro groups provide a source of oxygen to react with the carbon and nitrogen remaining (not enough for all of it, but it helps). Explosives are often mixed with fuels or oxidizing agents to produce a more oxygen-balanced mixture for a more efficient explosion.

What are the functional groups in an explosive compound?

Nitro compounds are organic compounds that contain one or more nitro functional groups (− NO2 ). The nitro group is one of the most common explosophores (functional group that makes a compound explosive) used globally. The nitro group is also strongly electron-withdrawing.

What is the product of explosive decomposition of organo nitro compounds?

Explosive decomposition of organo nitro compounds are redox reactions, wherein both the oxidant (nitro group) and the fuel (hydrocarbon substituent) are bound within the same molecule. The explosion process generates heat by forming highly stable products including molecular nitrogen (N2), carbon dioxide, and water.

What is the role of nitro groups in aromatic compounds?

For similar reasons, the presence of nitro groups in aromatic compounds retards electrophilic aromatic substitution but facilitates nucleophilic aromatic substitution. Nitro groups are rarely found in nature, being almost invariably produced by nitration reactions starting with nitric acid .